Bear Builder
This summer I decided I absolutely needed a job. I feel as though I’m not far enough in my college education to have a position as an intern or do any sort of a desk job, or even be hired based off of my resume. I have definitely not worked at enough assorted places to look good on a resume. So, after roaming around the mall and asking for as many applications as I was willing to fill out, I turned in an application to Build-A-Bear Workshop. In all honesty, the only reason I got an application to that toy store was because my sister stressed how much she’s wanted to work there. I thought I might as well grab one, too. So, one group and a one-on-one interview later, my sister and I are the only people to be hired out of a 40 person pool. Honestly, I hardly thought that I wanted to work with kids. I personally got tired of them after babysitting for so many years and I would have rather dealt with any other sort of retail position. I thoroughly regret thinking that now.
Kids that go to Build-A-Bear Workshop are SO easy to please and always enjoy their trip to the store. BABW is the sort of place they look foward to as a treat, whether it’s a birthday present or a congratulations for getting honor roll. People collect these bears and clothes like crazy and some have so many I’m surprised there’s any room left in their bedrooms to hold them. However, most kids who count up to two handfuls of bears at home can easily recite to me the names and colors of each animal they still play with. A kid who has never been to the store always seems so amused and excited when I have them jump up and down and twirl around for their heart ceremony. They also never realized how many different kinds of clothes there are to dress up their new best friend and they can spend up to half an hour trying to find the perfect outfit. Although a lot of this may SEEM shallow on the kid’s end, they are really just trying to find something that works on their new favorite toy. Although it’s very fun and enjoyable to make the children’s experience in the store memorable, there are some things that happen when I help out families that leave an impression on me.
Take for example the couple of families who decided to get each child a new bear to replace all of their old stuffed animals. That were lost in a fire. They seemed pretty positive about the whole situation, but when I asked the girls about their old animals, they seemed pretty upset (I felt kinda bad). However, the whole premise behind the store is to have an experience. So, I was completely okay with helping the family off and on for half an hour trying to find the right animal for each person, stuffing it just right, and finding the perfect accessories. It was also fun to secretly help the mom find a great birthday present for her twins, one who shares a name with me! Other people came through in hopes to find something to help their dad whose in the hospital. Then, there were was a whole family who made a boy and girl bear, wearing wedding garments, ready to give to to their cousin and his new wife. A good tenth of the people who come in have a very scary or memorable event in mind while making a bear. It’s really heartwarming to see the kid be a little happy despite the event.
And, most of all, I love it when kids leave the store, but they first want to run up to me, give me a hug, and say thanks and bye, that they appreciated all the help I gave to them and their new best friend.
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